Category Archives: Republicans

Petty Silliness Promoted To Sublime Pomposity — Just Cleave It

Posted on by
Pork Cuts

Image via Wikipedia

By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

How do you explain the absolute silliness of a massive congressional earmark if it is indescribable in ordinary terms?  Sublime pomposity?  Criminal ignorance and disrespect  for the money and resources of others?  Perhaps all of the forgoing would be appropriate.  A $49 billion  earmark seems a bit gigantic to me and I hope to the rest of you taxpaying citizens.  Can we just cut to the story of the congressman who has the audacity to defend such an earmark … “Yes we can!”  I know we have all heard those last three words, but I do not believe we were prepared to interpret them as our acquiescence to blatant robbery by a congress member.  Here’s the story — at least part of it.  From The Southeast Missourian and columnist Mike Jensen:

Rep. Cleaver has proposed a $48 billion earmark

When absurdity gives way to hilarity, you must be talking about politics.

In the midst of a colossal global concern for the economic stability of our great nation, Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri’s 5th Congressional District representative, has one small earmark on his wish list that deserves some attention.

Cleaver has listed a new earmark — one of several — and he promises to “fight for every one.” But this is a whopping $48 billion package that must go down as the grandaddy of all earmarks.

Proposed by a gentleman named Lamar Mickens, president of the not-for-profit Quality Day Campus, the $48 billion earmark would funnel money into the inner cities to give money to the poor and thereby produce a much larger consumer class to buy the goods and services produced in this country.

Just call this redistribution on steroids.

Cleaver’s office says this of the proposal:

“The Epicenter is a proposed estimated $48 billion (Phase One) mass scale urban reclamation project for combating, reducing, reversing and/or eliminating poverty within under served communities by utilizing mass scale economic redevelopment to bring about stability and self reliance.”

This thing just gets sillier and borders on stupid.  Here is a link to the rest of Jensen’s story.  PAY ATTENTION NOW — LOOK BELOW!

The story as Mr. Jensen wrote it seems not true.  Here is a follow-up to Jensen’s story, also from The Southeast Missourian, written by another author (Scott Moyer) :

Kansas City, Mo., Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is defending himself today to the national media, saying a Southeast Missouri columnist’s article that claims he was trying to seek $48 billion in federal funding for an inner-city revitalization project is false.”I think it would be hilarious if thousands of people did not believe it,” said Cleaver, who is serving his third term representing the Fifth District of Missouri in the House of Representatives. “It’s the most bizarre thing I’ve ever experienced in my years in politics.”

It began on Wednesday, when a column by Michael Jensen of Sikeston ran in the Southeast Missourian, asserting that Cleaver proposed a $48 billion earmark for a project called the Epicenter, an urban reclamation project for revitalizing low-income areas in Kansas City’s inner city.

The project is one of 127 proposals that were submitted to Cleaver via his website earlier this year for fiscal year 2011, which were posted on his website. But he posts every proposal he receives from constituents, he said, and not those that he actually chooses to send to Congressional appropriations committees.

So a sensational story has the kibosh put to it, by all things, an accurate story (we hope.)  We can read the rest of the “accurate” story and see that the congressman still loves pork bellies, pig tails and pig earmarks … just not to the extent to which he was accused by Mr. Jensen and others who ran with the original non-story that made a story in itself.  Here’s a link the rest of the revelatory piece by  Mr. Moyers.

While the above may or may not make a decent story, it should give any writer pause to consider sources and their veracity.  Something I have neglected on occasion as my friends and enemies can attest.

Below is a link which might help explain what Congressman Cleaver’s earmarks were, and what they were not.   But, with a name like “Cleaver,” surely the congressman can find an ear or two in need of marking for a butcher job:

Congressman Cleaver’s Earmarks

Here’s more and don’t forget the links toward the bottom of the page:

Republican earmarks do exist along with other Democrats, and Independents

Related Articles

Did They Truck Them In, Or?

Posted on by
U.S. Congressman (now Senator-elect) Bernie Sa...

Image via Wikipedia

By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

We’ll be posting a link to the story of  Senator Bernie Sanders, (I-VT) and his long-lasting solo act, but the partial question above has to do with the many posters on the comment sections under the linked article, that have given the Senator hero status against or over the Co-President Bill Clinton and our current President Barrack Obama AND all the Republicans.  I’m sure you know how to access the comments and I’ll only caution you to remember some of the inconsiderate posters have juvenile potty mouths … so you are forewarned.

As to the link to the story, I’m sorry it has no video.  But I wouldn’t subject you to eight or nine hours of great speeches from our nation’s founding fathers, much less what some would call harrumphing and haranguing  from a seasoned citizen.  A hero to Vermonters and others he may be, and you have to respect him his energy and dedication, whether well placed or off-track, but he should consider his vocal cords and cut the time he spends on his effort to take away tax breaks for those who may need and want them.

The article makes reference to the Senator as “Filibernie,” but I just know someone else will come up with “FullofBernie,” so I’d like to lay claim to the nickname or appellation before someone else grabs it .  That is not to say that he is full of himself, but it signifies that the Senate chambers was full of his speechifying for at least a third of a day.  The article comes from, The Hill’s, BLOG BRIEFING ROOM and it is by Jordan Fabian.  You’ll find it below:

Mr. Sanders Talks, And Talks, And Talks To Washington

Don’t forget the links below.

Related Articles

Bubba Clinton Set To Become The First Co-President

Posted on by
Obama standing in the Oval Office

Image via Wikipedia

By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

Yes, the first Co-President as some are saying on the comment boards.  In a story posted by Yahoo Finance (originally from AP Associated Press) it is reported that Mr. Clinton may have saved (at least he tried) President Obama’s bacon  This is after he met with, and then decided after the meeting, to appear before the press corpse corps in defense of the President’s and Republicans’ new tax deal.  The President, apparently showing extreme confidence in President Clinton, walked away to attend a party and left it with him:

Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance at Obama’s side in the White House briefing room Friday.

“I don’t believe there is a better deal out there,” Clinton told reporters who’d been summoned at a moment’s notice to see the former chief executive back the current one. Clinton and Obama had just finished a private meeting in the Oval Office.

Obama said it was a “terrific meeting” and then turned the podium over to Clinton.

There is a bit more to the story accessible here.  We only wish to add that Bill Clinton lived through 8 years of gory and glory filled nights and days and he demonstrated his power of persuasion on many occasions — some Presidential and some not so.  If he can quell the screeching of the Democrats and Progressives long enough to bring things back to a path toward normal, he will do well.

There is this short clip showing the Billster at work.  I’m sure there will be more of the same appearing on television and other moving venues.

Thanks and a flap of the cap to AP, Yahoo  and Real Politics.

Related Articles

Another Stay-At-Home Congress Supporter

Posted on by
President George W. Bush (right) is greeted by...

Image via Wikipedia

By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

Back on October 9th, we posted an idea floated by others about a stay-at-home congress.  The idea has a lot of merit in these days of virtual workplaces, broadband internet access and a costly out-of-control federal legislature … if particulars can be worked out.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise to us  that Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) would roll-out such an idea.  A POLITICO blog by Jennifer Epstein and a Human Events interview reports on the idea from Jindal, but no real details are offered toward implementing such an efficient congress.  But the devil can’t loom any larger in the details, than he is mischievous and devious in our present flat tire of a system.  Here’s what Jindal has to say in part:

Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal wants members of Congress to stay home more often.

“We used to pay farmers not to grow crops, let’s pay congressmen to stay out of Washington, D.C.,” Jindal said in an interview with Human Events. “Mark Twain said that our liberty, our wallets were safest when the legislature’s not in session.”

As the reader can see there is a link to the Human Events article.  It offers a bit more for those who want to learn more regarding Jindal’s statements in his interview.  And there is a video which lasts almost five minutes which will provide even greater detail:

Here’s the link to our previous blog article (mentioned above) with information on an E-Congress idea.

Thanks to Politico and Human Events as well as Jennifer Epstein and Jason Mattera.

Related Articles

    True Or False — Are Dems Asking Ms. Pelosi To Give It Up?

    Posted on by

     

    Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States Hou...

    Image via Wikipedia

     

    By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

    Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

    That is the report from FoxNews and probably other media outlets.  An alleged draft of a letter to be sent to the dasher of Demo dreams has been published by FoxNews and is said to have been circulated among Democratic losers and other party members:

    From a House Democratic Source:

    FOX has obtained a letter being penned by defeated House Democrats that implores House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to step aside.

    The letter is now circulating Capitol Hill and has not yet been sent to the Speaker. FOX has obtained draft language of the letter.

    In the draft of the letter, the members say that they were “victimized by a national wave of resentment toward Democrats, a wave that ensnared you along with us.”

    The letter goes on to say “Madam Speaker, fairly or unfairly, Republicans made you the face of the resentment and disagreement in our races. While we commend your years of service to our party and your leadership through many tough times, we respectfully ask that you step aside as the top Democrat in the House.”

    I don’t claim to know the inside of Democratic politics, but there are plenty of clues that the lady will not go without some sort of fight.  A fight which could further work to the detriment of what is left in our House of Representatives.  Here is one strong indication, that not only will she fight, but she is proud of her so-called accomplishments (some of which may fall down to her ankles like loose stockings) and may wish to throw a party to celebrate among the fallen.

    The rest of the story and the complete text of the letter according to FoxNews can be  seen here.  The two stories when combined, if true, are nothing if not surreal.  It is hard to understand pride coupled with denial.  But, there they both sit … or stand.

    Flap of the cap to FoxNews, Fox reporter Chad Pergram and Drudge

    Cautionary note: This has not been verified as coming from Dems, except by statements in the article at FoxNews.
    Related Articles

    More Bull Butter By Churning Radical Progressives (For The Most Part)

    Posted on by

     

    Churning butter Jersey 1912

    Image via Wikipedia

     

    By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

    Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

    Winding down now (politically speaking) we see extra-ordinary attempts by the mostly main stream media (MSM) to draw and quarter the Tea Parties across the United States.  Certainly, in our opinion,  they also excoriate the Republicans for their part in running for office as they (MSM) stoop to pick up the sorriest of the sorry Democratic party’s lot to attempt maintenance of the status-quo.

    Some of the  MSM statements are pure political electioneering … something the small-stream media (SSM) cannot hope to combat due to SSM’s lesser numbers.  However, due to hard-work, real sincerity and their listening and reading numbers, they may combat the stench the bull butter radicals try to spread on them.

    Media Research Center ( conservative and very conservative) publishes a newsletter for online subscribers.  Their CYBER ALERT SPECIAL EDITION sent today offers ample evidence of what we have said above.  Rather than try to make an excellent job over, I have posted a link to the tattletale stories.  I hope you’ll read the stories behind the links:

    CLICK HERE FOR THE STORIES BEHIND THE LINKS

     

    Related Articles

    Reid Says, “I Look To The Sky — Do I Try, Or Simply Fly Away With The Bird.”

    Posted on by
    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) meeti...

    Image via Wikipedia

    By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

    Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

    That might be what Senator Harry Reid is thinking when pictured as he tries to look earnest.  Images displayed of our President and the Senator who happens to try to lead the Senate often look heavenward as though they have a meeting with the Man upstairs.  Perhaps they do, or perhaps they have a short meeting with the destiny of political life.  Either way, this article is about Harry Reid, the bird flipper and his latest promise to pass an immigration bill during the lame-duck prelude to the swearing-in of a new Congress.  Think of it as Reid’s “Duck Bill” if he manages to convince enough Senators to follow his folly.  An article in today’s edition of The Washington Times by their reporter, Stephen Dinan, has said:

    Mr. Reid, a Nevada Democrat who is in a desperate battle to keep his Senate seat, told Univision’s “Al Punto,” a Sunday political talk show, that he has the right as majority leader to decide what legislation reaches the floor, and said he is “a believer in needing to do something” on immigration.

    Ever the demagogue himself, Mr. Reid resorts to hauling-out  the old words Democrats and Progressives love to use to denigrate Republicans and Conservatives.  Of course Reid neglects placing the blame for the immigrants plight where it belongs … squarely in the immigrants’ camp(no pun intended)  in their home countries that have no path to success for the poor and at his and other ineffectual liberal’s feet:

    “I just need a handful of Republicans. I would settle for two or three Republicans to join with me on the Dream Act and comprehensive immigration reform, but they have not been willing to step forward,” Mr. Reid said. “They want to keep talking about this issue, and I say [it] is demagoguery in its worst fashion and is unfair to the Hispanic community.”

    Reid is attempting, with his last-minute rounds of Hispanic media outlets, to ride the tired old pony of undeserved amnesty to an election victory which will allow his continued forced legislation and friendship with his political cronies.

    In September, just before Congress adjourned for two months, Mr. Reid tried to attach the Dream Act to the annual defense policy bill, which already was loaded down with language laying out a path for gays to serve openly in the military. But Republicans blocked the defense bill, arguing that Mr. Reid was playing politics just before the election.

    The immigration issue has been dominant in the Nevada Senate race, which pits Mr. Reid against Republican nominee Sharron Angle, who has been running ads accusing Mr. Reid of being a friend of illegal immigrants.

    You can read a surprise ending (at least somewhat) to Mr. Dinan’s story, and other information not covered in this post, by clicking right here.

    Thanks and a flap of the cap to The Washington Times and Mr. Dinan.

    Related Articles

    Whoppers And Fact Loppers

    Posted on by

     

    Republican Party Election Day Watcher Ribbon, 1904

    Image by Cornell University Library via Flickr

     

    By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

    Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

    Winding down to a final count, or at least all the last poll closings on the evening of November 2nd, we find lies and pruning of the truth from the tree of knowledge by both major parties.

    Again FactCheck.org pays more than enough attention to put together two or more podcasts that call both Republicans and Democrats to task while managing to judge a few judges across the nation.

    I have provided access for FactCheck’s information from a link set below:

    FactCheck Link For Podcasts

    The rest is up to you.  Just click on the links to which you are directed to listen to all the podcasts.

    Related Articles

    Outside Spending, It’s 200 Million

    Posted on by
    Sunlight Foundation
    Image via Wikipedia

    By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

    Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

    The Sunlight Foundation, a watchdog reporting group (more here) reports that spending  for political campaigns has reached the 200 million dollar mark.  The article by Anupama Narayanswamy starts with:
    Spending by outside groups trying to influence the mid-term elections increased by a staggering $78 million in the last week, pushing the total spent by non-profits, labor unions and party committees to more than $200 million this cycle. That’s an 80 percent increase from 2006, the last mid-term election.
    “Super PACs”–groups that register with the FEC their intention to raise unlimited funds and run independent expenditure ads–have spent a total of $21.4 million so far.
    It appears the report tags no favorites and labor unions, both political parties and other big fund-raiser are given equal treatment in the story.
    Spending by outside groups trying to influence the mid-term elections increased by a staggering $78 million in the last week, pushing the total spent by non-profits, labor unions and party committees to more than $200 million this cycle. That’s an 80 percent increase from 2006, the last mid-term election.
    “Super PACs”–groups that register with the FEC their intention to raise unlimited funds and run independent expenditure ads–have spent a total of $21.4 million so far.
    It appears that both major political parties, labor unions and other big dough raisers  are equals when it comes to the overall reporting and no one is left out as sacred (at least among the big elephants, donkeys and labor progressives):
    In the last four days alone the top five spending organizations disclosed spending $13.8 million and includes a spike in spending by two of the party committees (the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee). American Crossroads, Crossroads GPS–both of which are advised by Republican strategist Karl Rove–and the National Association of Realtors round out the top five.
    A group who has been braying a lot in the last week or so leads the spending increase for the past week.  Perhaps they are hoofing it in a hurry to combat the spending by the Republicans:
    The DCCC has upped it’s spending considerably (sic) than previous weeks and has spent more than $6.3 million over the last four days, mostly on opposition ads. Crossroads GPS, a 501(c)4 group that doesn’t disclose its donors, spent $2.4 million mostly on close Senate races.
    There’s very little more in the story, but here’s the link if you wish to access it and plunk around where you’ll find more stories.
    Related Articles

    FactCheck.Org Claims To Stop Another POTUS Whopper

    Posted on by

    By Chuck Ring (GadaboutBlogalot ©2009 – 2010)

    Quote Freely From The Article – Leave The Pseudonym Alone

    FactCheck.org (FCO) claims to have found another Social Security whopper presented by Obama.  This one brings with it an accusation that a tale told by POTUS accusing the Republicans of a plan to privatize Social Security is mostly bunkum.  Although, FCO stops short of calling the President the great prevaricator, here  are three points they make at the front of their article:

    Few if any Republicans now in Congress have ever pushed for total “privatization” of Social Security. What President Bush proposed in 2005 was to allow workers under the age of 55 to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in private accounts. Most of their taxes would have continued to go into traditional Social Security.

    Bush’s proposal to create private accounts had so little Republican support in 2005 — when the GOP controlled both the House and Senate — that it was never introduced as formal legislation. We’ve seen no evidence to suggest the idea is any more popular among Republicans now.

    Only one Republican “leader” is currently pushing publicly for Bush-style private accounts, as part of an overall budget plan. He is Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the senior GOP member of the House Budget Committee. His plan currently has only 13 cosponsors, none of them in the GOP House leadership.

    The article continues to say Obama even pushed the truth when he said, in effect,  that the Republican’s plan would throw citizens’ investment to the wolves of  Wall Street.  This is another FAIL in the truth column for our leader according to FCO:

    That’s not true of the private accounts Bush proposed. Those would have been invested in strictly regulated, broadly based mutual funds, much like the funds in which millions of federal workers invest their own retirement fund.

    It looks as though Mr. Obama starts with a tall-tale (I’m being overly kind) and quickly sinks to more elephant “tails”  if we take it from the beginning and continue to their analysis.  What the analysis actually does is to spread bull butter over much, if not most, of  Obama stories and during the process of churning the substance, they manage to acquit George W. Bush‘s plan for privatization.  And that acquittal after all those years of progressives’ bashing of Bush’s ideas on Social Security.

    So here we are with FCO and just in front of their analysis.  Don’t take my word, read the analysis contained within the complete article.  Here’s their link to a report on an earlier whopper by the same man … on the same subject.  Just click here.

    Mr. Obama's Best Friend?

    Related articles by Zemanta
    Enhanced by Zemanta